I have decided to add a new page, which is basically another big list. Its the Ales that I have had. Admittedly I am at a disadvantage as I have forgotten most of the ones that I have had before, but from now on I will try and keep it up to date. So far breweries that begin with B are in the lead, but that is only because I can remember them.
Relaxing Weekend
24 05 2010I guess as some of you will know, I am getting married. My wonderful (now) Fiancee said yes, even though I was drunk and had not planned anything (Riga Black Balsam has a lot to answer for). We haven’t set a date, we have barely set a year (2012).
Since this happened nearly a fortnight ago in Riga, we have been crazily busy with things going on, so this weekend was nice and relaxing taking pleasure in being out in the sunny weather. We went out on our bikes and the picked up the engagement ring before going out with some of H’s friends to a pub and drinking again.
On Sunday we went to Queen Elizabeth Country park for a walk so that my sister can wear in her new hiking boots before she hits the Himalayas. For the afternoon we sat in my parents back garden with a BBQ eating and drinking away the rest of the day lazily. It will be the most relaxing weekend that we will have for a while.
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Tags: BBQ, Engagement, Queen Elizabeth Country Park, Walking
Categories : Ale, Days Out, Engagement, Weather
Innis and Gunn
9 05 2010I was brought a bottle of this ale for my birthday. It is probably one of the best real Ales that I have ever drank. This is Innis and Gunn Original.
It apparently has hints of Toffee, Vanilla and Oak, which gives it a sweet taste, it really is very nice. You can get it from Tesco.
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Tags: Ale
Categories : Ale
Active Weekend
20 04 2010On Sunday we got our bikes out after we had decided that we were going to ride to Hayling Island. We left from mine and cycled down to Farlington before heading along the marshes to Langstone. We crossed the bridge and headed up the old Hayling Billy Railway line, which was closed due to the Beeching railway reforms and is now used by vast amounts of Walkers, Cyclists and Horse Riders. Once we had reached he end we decided to ride along to the Ferryboat Inn and have a pint in the sun, which was lovely, before riding back.
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Tags: Cycling, Mountain Bike, Walking
Categories : Ale, Cycling, Days Out, exercise, Weather
Quizaroo Answers
9 04 2010Food
1)If you were eating Cuy in Peru, what pet would you be eating? Guinea Pig
2)In Cambodia, what delicacy is known as A-ping? Tarantula
3)Which American State eats the most Spam? Hawaii
4)The root of the Blue Agarve cactus is fermented to produce what? Tequila
5)The famous Cheesesteak Sandwich is named after which American city? Philedelphia
Festivities
6)What is the Encerrio of the Festival de San Fermin, held in Pamplona every year better known as? Bull Run
7)In What month is the Rio Carnival? February
8)In Which country would you find La Tomantina tomato fight? Spain
9)What do Canadians Celebrate on the 2nd Monday in October? Thanksgiving
10)El Dia De La Muertas is celebrated in Mexico. What does it translate to? Day of the Dead
Buildings
11)Emperor Shah Jahar built which famous building for his second Wife Mumtaz Mahal? Taj Mahal
12)How tall is the Eiffel Tower to the nearest 50m? 324m 274-374
13)The Djenne Mosque in Mali was built in the 12th century and is still standing. What is it made of? Mud
14)The Worlds Smallest Theatre is in Which English town famous for its spring Water? Malvern
15)The Biggest hotel in Las Vegas is modelled after which European city? Venice
Sport
16)Which race has been won by Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckyx and Bernard Hinault and Miguel Indurain 5 times each? The Tour de France
17)In which sport would you find the Deccan Chargers? Cricket
18)David Beckham Plays for which 2 club Football teams? AC Milan and LA Galaxy (point for each)
19)Where is the World cup being held in 2014? Brazil
20)In Which City did Mohammed Ali fight Joe Frazier in 1975 for the third time? Manilla
Europe
21)What is Europes most Westerly Country? Iceland
22)In which City would you find the Ponte Vecchio bridge, Duomo and the Accadamia which holds Michalangelo’s statue of David? Florence
23)In Ulm (Germany) there is a statue which consists of One Stone on a plinth. Which scientist’s birthplace is it commemorating? Albert Einstein
24)The Bishop of Rome is otherwise known as What? The Pope
25)Which Capital City holds the worlds Heaviest Building? Bucharest
Place names
26)What animal is the Arctic named after?Bear (Arktos is Russian for Bear)
27)What is Uluru better known as? Ayres Rock
28)What is Rapa Nui better known as? Easter Island
29)Which city was formerly known as Leningrad? St Petersburg
30)Which Country used to be known as Ceylon? Sri Lanka
Seconds
31)What is the Worlds 2nd Longest River? The Amazon
32)What is the Worlds 2nd Highest Mountain? K2
33)Where is the worlds 2nd largest Coral Reef? Belize
34)Second largest Island? Greenland
35)Second largest Continent? Africa
Capitals
36)What is the Capital of Slovenia? Ljubliana
37)What is the Capital of Morocco? Rabat
38)Tanzania? Dar Es Salaam
39)Indonesia? Jakarta
40)Fiji? Suva
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Tags: Pub Quiz
Categories : Ale, Pub Quiz, random
Quizaroo
8 04 2010Tuesday night was my debut as quiz master in the Sunshine inn. It was down to me as we won the quiz the month before. The winner of the first quiz each month has to write the quiz for the next month. After much Umming and erring I decided that I was going to do a travel quiz. I managed to do 9 musical intro’s of songs with place names in the titles, varying from Led Zeppelin (Kashmir) to Stiff Little Fingers (Alternative Ulster) and Editors (Munich). I think it all went down quite well. The picture round was on famous buildings and the cities that they are in. So there were pictures of the Taj Mahal., Brandenburg gate, Eiffel tower and Burj Al Arab hotel, as well as a few more obscure ones. The main quiz was divided up into sections with 5 in each group. I have posted the questions below. People told me that it was interesting and they enjoyed it, which I am glad about.
Food
1)If you were eating Cuy in Peru, what pet would you be eating?
2)In Cambodia, what delicacy is known as A-ping?
3)Which American State eats the most Spam?
4)The root of the Blue Agarve cactus is fermented to produce what?
5)The famous Cheesesteak Sandwich is named after which American city?
Festivities
6)What is the Encerrio of the Festival de San Fermin, held in Pamplona every year better known as?
7)In What month is the Rio Carnival?
8)In Which country would you find La Tomantina tomato fight?
9)What do Canadians Celebrate on the 2nd Monday in October?
10)El Dia De La Muertas is celebrated in Mexico. What does it translate to?
Buildings
11)Emperor Shah Jahar built which famous building for his second Wife Mumtaz Mahal?
12)How tall is the Eiffel Tower to the nearest 50m?
13)The Djenne Mosque in Mali was built in the 12th century and is still standing. What is it made of?
14)The Worlds Smallest Theatre is in Which English town famous for its spring Water?
15)The Biggest hotel in Las Vegas is modelled after which European city?
Sport
16)Which race has been won by Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckyx and Bernard Hinault and Miguel Indurain 5 times each?
17)In which sport would you find the Deccan Chargers?
18)David Beckham Plays for which 2 club Football teams?
19)Where is the World cup being held in 2014?
20)In Which City did Mohammed Ali fight Joe Frazier in 1975 for the third time?
Europe
21)What is Europes most Westerly Country?
22)In which City would you find the Ponte Vecchio bridge, Duomo and the Accadamia which holds Michalangelo’s statue of David?
23)In Ulm (Germany) there is a statue which consists of One Stone on a plinth. Which scientist’s birthplace is it commemorating?
24)The Bishop of Rome is otherwise known as What?
25)Which Capital City holds the worlds Heaviest Building?
Place names
26)What animal is the Arctic named after?
27)What is Uluru better known as?
28)What is Rapa Nui better known as?
29)Which city was formerly known as Leningrad?
30)Which Country used to be known as Ceylon?
Seconds
31)What is the Worlds 2nd Longest River?
32)What is the Worlds 2nd Highest Mountain?
33)Where is the worlds 2nd largest Coral Reef?
34)Second largest Island?
35)Second largest Continent?
Capitals
36)What is the Capital of Slovenia?
37)What is the Capital of Morocco?
38)Tanzania?
39)Indonesia?
40)Fiji?
Answers are being posted tomorrow.
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Tags: Pub Quiz
Categories : Ale, Pub Quiz, random
Lunchtime Ales
3 10 2009Yesterday Rachael from my office and I went to the Hole in The Wall (CAMRA’s SE Hants pub of the year 2007 and again in 2009) at lunchtime, they are having an Ale festival, and have 50 barrels going over the next week. It started on Friday the 2nd, and we were there. I had the Brewdog (surprise surprise) 77lager (not like a lager at all, it was flat and ale like and very good). Then we had a half of Titanic, a Chocolate and Vanilla flavoured stout. This smelt of chocolate and tasted of it at first, later it had a smokey taste, that I didn’t like.
So there you go, drinking at lunchtime, all good.
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Tags: Ale
Categories : Ale
Cathedrals and Abbeys
8 09 2009On Friday evening myself and H drove up to Worcester for what seems like the first time in ages for me (and the first time ever for H), where we were staying at Fatbob and Bimbo’s. We were joined later in the evening by Dev, but not KP, who sadly had to look after the escapologist cat Frank (He escaped with a big anti-scratch collar on) and had some curry, made by Jackie abley assisted by Fatbob.
We later headed into town to the Hand in Glove pub for a few beers and were joined by Treble Cleff and Pete, where our usual talking rubbish insued until about 2 before we turned in for the evening.
The next morning, slightly worse for wear, we had a sausage sandwich and then took a wander down by the river to show H the cathedral. It turned out that there was a food fair going on, but as you had to pay £6 to get in, we decided against that one and headed inside for a bit of a look around. It is an impressive building and I hadn’t been in there since my graduation, so it was nice to have a decent look around in there, including the Crypt. After this we headed back and had a game of Trivial Pursuit before heading to the Marwood for an evening meal.
More impressively than the fact that they had Brew Dog Lusty Blonde on Tap, which is ace, the food was spectacular. For starters I had 6 Garlic King Prawns. For the Main I had a Steak cooked beautifully rare with Honey Roast Vegetables and Fat Chips (basically half chip and half roast potato, all very tasty). Desert was a Chocolate and Pistacio fudge cake with Lemon Sorbet. I left feeling full, but wanting more.
The best desert was H’s Pannacotta, which had popping candy on the top. Very nice indeed. We had a good long meal, but called it an early night, as we seem to be getting too old for late-night exertions 2 days in a row.

Tewekesbury Abbey
On Sunday we had plans to visit Mack, Spanner and the sprog, so we went to Tewkesbury on the way to have a look at the abbey and the confluence of the Severn and Avon rivers. Being geography geeks, this was a bit exciting for us.
Saying goodbye to Fatbob and Bimbo we headed towards Fairford for lunch at Chez Chick and then home. All in all it was a good weekend, so that is even better.
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Tags: Tewkesbury, Worcester
Categories : Ale, Days Out, Food, Travel
Brewdog
26 08 2009A while ago on Oz and James Drink Britain, I saw 2 guys from a little scottish brewery drinking Ale in a park with Oz Clark and James May. It sounded interesting, but I swiftly forgot about it.

Punk IPA
Then I went to the Southwick Brewhouse and found Brewdog’s Trashy Blonde there. The 4.1% IPA is a great drink, but looking on their website there were a lot more that I wanted to try. One of the things they say on their bottles is that its not mass produced or mass marketed, so I didn’t hold out much hope of finding it in a supermarket.
Then I went to Tesco and found that they had Trashy Blond in there. The next day I went to Sainsburys, and found that they had Trashy Blond(4.1%), Punk IPA (6%) Dogma (7.8% Lavender Honey flavoured) and Hardcore IPA (9%) and Chaos Theory (7.1%), even better its on 4 for the price of 3. Even better its much cooler than drinking Wizards Tipple or Old Speckeld Granny or whatever they are called.
So this might be my first blog into a journey of discovery of real ales. Or alternatively I could try some of the Tokyo stout at 18% and fall over.
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Tags: Ale, Brewdog
Categories : Ale